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MARQUETTE -- Patti Doucette visits her mom twice a week at the Norlite Nursing Center in Marquette.

"I stay as long as I possibly can, hopefully for the day and visit her. I try to get her out once and a while to get some fresh air and it is absolutely wonderful," said Doucette.

The average cost of nursing homes in the Upper Peninsula  ranges anywhere from $7,000 to $9,000 a month.

So how do you know which facility is the best for your loved one?

Elder law attorney Robert Anderson says there are multiple ways to help families pay for a nursing home.

"We can help the process to make sure that you can get Medicare if you're able to go from the hospital, to get Medicaid if you can spend down your assets using legal and ethical strategies, whether you have long-term care insurance and how many months of private pay would be necessary to pay for that care on your own before you can qualify for some of the government benefits that you might be entitled to," said Anderson.

Before choosing a nursing home, it is also recommended that you visit the facility.

"Then after that, I would go on the website that's called Nursing Home Compare where they compare nursing homes in terms of their quality of care," said Eric Johnson, administrator at Norlight Nursing Center.